Can I Help the FTC Fight Spam?

By KIM KOMANDO

Question: I have been receiving e-mail messages with my address in the “From” field. It looks like I sent them. When I look at the headers, I can see that someone else sends them. Should I forward them to the Federal Trade Commission? Will they know I’m reporting the sender, or will they come after me?

Answer: You can forward fraudulent spam to the FTC at spam@uce.gov. The FTC won’t take information in the From field at face value. Spammers often use fraudulent return addresses. The headers are the important part because they contain information about the real sender. The FTC is especially interested in the headers’ Internet protocol addresses. The FTC uses the spam to find and stop spammers.

Q: My children have Webkinz accounts. We are unable to connect using dial-up on Windows Vista. Can you help?

A: Webkinz is a social-networking site aimed at preteens. Several things could cause your problem. First, Webkinz needs a broadband Internet connection. You may have to upgrade. Second, many Vista users have reported such problems, which have been traced to Vista’s parental controls. Disable the controls and then try accessing the site. If it works, add Webkinz’s IP addresses to your approved list. Webkinz’s Help section lists those addresses.

Q: I placed my resume on Monster.com and got an e-mail message back from a company. It offered me the position of Account Manager Funds. It is offering $30,000 per year, plus $50,000 in commissions. Does this sound legitimate?

A: This is too good to be true, I’m afraid. It’s hard to say what the people behind this want. They may require you to put up “good will” money. Or, maybe you’d be laundering money. Whatever, they will certainly try to defraud you. You could even end up arrested. In 2007, Monster.com experienced a huge data theft. The thieves apparently are using the information to lure people into shady transactions. Be careful of these job offers.

Q: I’ve installed a security suite on my office computers. Do I need any other security programs?

A: Security suites typically package firewall, antivirus and anti-spyware programs. But there are more programs you should add. Spyware can be difficult to catch. So, I recommend multiple anti-spyware programs. I have links to Spybot, Ad-Aware and Windows Defender at www.tulsaworld.com/komandonews. Line is overdrawn They’re all free. Vista users already have Windows Defender. Do not use multiple firewalls or antivirus programs. They will conflict.

Q: I recently heard that Netscape Navigator will be discontinued. Is this true? Will I need to find a replacement browser?

A: AOL is discontinuing Netscape Navigator. Security updates ended Feb. 1. So you should switch browsers. I recommend Mozilla’s Firefox. It is similar to Navigator, so the learning curve shouldn’t be too steep. You could also try Safari, Apple’s Web browser. It is available for Windows. You could also go with Microsoft’s Internet Explorer. It is less safe than the other two, because it is part of Windows. If necessary, download the latest version, Internet Explorer 7.

E-mail questions to Komando at gnstech@ns.gannett.com.

Originally published by KIM KOMANDO Gannett News Service.

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